The way in which Mr W. Raeburn, QC, turned down a free ticket to see the Beatles when he presided over the Performing Right Tribunal in London yesterday would have roused bitter envy in the soul of a teenager, if any had happened to be present. Perhaps fortunately, none was. If any had been, they would have had to endure the counsel for the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association and other interested parties, Mr Duncan Ranking, describing their idols in terms which might well have caused them to scream.

Mr Ranking sketched this picture of pop concerts: "The performers are just a few young men, occasionally with a female also. Sir, they are equipped by amplifying instruments, these instruments being a guitar or a number of electric guitars, with perhaps an electric double bass. The music which is played has little or no melody to it and it consists of a rhythmic and monotonous beat, and while it is being played the performers sing or croon into the mike. They also play the fool on the stage, sir, by making gestures, dancing, grimacing, and that sort of thing. They are often dressed in an unusual or outlandish way."

Mr Raeburn, however, looked quite eager when Mr Ranking suggested he should make a personal visit to a cinema concert to form a first-hand judgment on which is the real cause of Beatlemania – the Beatles themselves.

"Where is the cinema you are thinking of?" asked Mr Raeburn, and added, "Would we be expected to scream?" Mr Ranking wasn't sure about the cinema, but assured the tribunal that failing personal attendance, they had in court a tape recording of the Beatles.

Mr Raeburn said they were prepared to go to a Beatle concert though they couldn't spare a whole afternoon. It was pointed out that the Beatles perform only in the evening. "I have only one free evening this week," said Mr Raeburn. His colleagues, it seemed, had no evenings free. So the tribunal decided to be satisfied with the tape.

This is being played back at the tribunal today as part of the case of the association, who are contesting a claim being made by the Performing Right Society which represents composers and publishers of music for 4 per cent of box office takings. This is an increase of more than 3 per cent.

The association, as well as Harold Fielding Ltd., the entertainments promoters, Vic Lewis the impresario, and Larry Parnes the artist manager, are being represented by Mr Ranking, who said they considered that although a beat concert cannot be given without music, the music by itself is of "no audience drawing power".